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Monday, October 30, 2017

Gain a greater understanding of the Bible book by book, verse by verse, or topic by topic.

The study of God’s Word can be easy and rewarding if you break down the Bible into easy-to-understand segments. The KJV Know the Word Study Bibleoffers three easy ways to begin studying Scripture and helps individuals transition from being a casual reader of the Bible to becoming a regular student of the Bible. You can choose to study the Bible book-by-book, verse-by-verse, or topic-by-topic; each path offers powerful insights that will help you develop a daily routine of Bible study.

The book-by-book series of notes leads you through the main points of each book of the Bible. The verse-by-verse notes help you to dig deeper into God’s Word. The topic-by-topic articles, which cover 21 theological topics, guide you through a series of insightful notes and give you a thorough biblical understanding of each topic. With the beautiful and timeless text of the KJV translation, the KJV Know the Word Study Bibleoffers you choices of how to study Scripture and grow in your relationship with Christ.

Features include:

—King James Version Bible text—Three easy approaches to study the Bible: 1. Book by Book; 2. Verse by Verse; 3. Topic by Topic—Insightful introductions for each book of Scripture—Words of Jesus in red—Beautiful two-color interior page design—Comprehensive list of theological notes—Concordance—Full-color maps—8-point type size

{MORE ABOUT THOMAS NELSON}

In business since 1798, Thomas Nelson is one of the oldest Bible publishers in the world and the largest publisher of the King James Version. Their mission is to inspire the world by using our talents, assets, opportunities, and influence to engage and equip people with Scripture and draw people to a deeper study and understanding of God’s Word.

My Take: Whenever I get a new Bible to review I use it for my Bible Study and church Bible for a couple of months to see how I liked the features. This Bible passed my tests with flying colors. It is a King James version Bible which I don't read very often but I found that I didn't mind it that much. I liked reading the notes in the footnotes as well as the studies in the study pages. The maps where really nice to have as well as the concordance. I would say that this Bible would really help you to know the Bible better. America is in a major time of Biblical illiteracy and this Bible would go a long way to help out with that.

I received a review copy of this Bible from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

from Goodreads.com: Caring for an aging father diagnosed with Alzheimer's exposes a multitude of experiences and feelings. Writer and photographer Peter Maeck approached this extremely difficult time of life with extraordinary mindfulness and compassion. Using the language of his craft, Maeck observed that he and his father "moved from a prose relationship into one of poetry . . . less literal and more metaphorical . . . engaging more in rhyme than in reason." Remembrance of Things Present is an important book for our time as dementia nears epidemic proportions; it is wisdom gleaned from facing one of life's most horrific afflictions with word, image, and love.My Take: My father died two years ago from Alzheimer's. As I live two states away I didn't get to spend much time with him during his last years but was able to be with him the last two weeks of his life. I wanted to read this book for that exact purpose. I wanted to see how another person went through this time. My mother was the primary care giver to my father and she had said her goodbye's long before he was anywhere near his death. I on the other hand was sad when he wouldn't remember me and happy that I was able to hold his hand as he past on. This book held some similarties to my experience and some differences but I liked the way the author expressed himself through poetry and pictures. I received a review copy of this book from Virtual Author Book tours in exchange for my honest review.

from Goodreads.com : Melba Blue Jay, sixteen, scrambling up a snow-filled mountain path, her knife at a child's throat. Archie Chung at the helm of the South Pacific Belle, foremast snapped like a toothpick, barreling toward a coral reef. Spindly Lydia Freeman, skin the color of dark ale, feeding tea made of birch bark to an Irish murderess. Zeke Roxxmott teetering at three hundred feet on the five-inch ledge of his penthouse, bent on a flawless destruction.My Take: This is a historical novel paired with mystery. This book is a testament to how our families living or past help to form who we are and how we live our lives. Each of the incidents are based on actual events. I would recommend if you like historical novels, are interested in Native Americans or just like a well told story. I received a review copy of this book from Virtual Author Book tours in exchange for my honest review.

Saturday, October 28, 2017

Her personal safety isn't the only thing in jeopardy—so is her heart. In Hope Toler Dougherty's new novel, Rescued Hearts, children’s clothing designer Mary Wade Kimball’s soft spot for animals leads to a hostage situation when she spots a briar-entangled kitten in front of an abandoned house. Discovering the kidnapped woman ratchets the complications for undercover agent Brett Davis. Brett forsakes his three-month mission and helps her escape, the bent-on-revenge brutes following behind . . . and then Mary Wade's safety is threatened once more.

Cozy up this fall with Hope's new book and enter to win a Kindle Fire!

One grand prize winner will receive:

A copy of Rescued Hearts

A Kindle Fire 7

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on November 13. The winner will be announced November 14 on the Litfuse blog.

Diving deeper into God's Word can be easy and rewarding if you break it down book by book, verse by verse, or topic by topic with the new KJV Know The Word Study Bible by Thomas Nelson. The book-by-book series of notes leads you through the main points of each book of the Bible. The verse-by-verse notes help you to dig deeper into God’s Word. The topic-by-topic articles, which cover 21 theological topics, guide you through a series of insightful notes and give you a thorough biblical understanding of each topic. With the beautiful and timeless text of the KJV translation, the KJV Know the Word Study Bible offers you choices of how to study Scripture and grow in your relationship with Christ.

This fall, become a regular student of the Bible and enter to win the Kindle Fire giveaway!

The Pretender: A Blackguard in Disguise (Reata Publishing, September 2017)

Set in South Dakota in 1975, where eighteen-year-olds could order 3.2 beer in a bar, and loaded guns were kept under the counter.

Frankie Valli sang “My Eyes Adored You,” and American soldiers returning from Vietnam struggled with their new reality.

It’s within this tumultuous season of American history that Tillie Caselli meets Noah Hansen, and they are never the same again. Their lives were mysteriously intertwined—and had been for many years—yet they had no idea.​From the moment they met, Tillie and Noah wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, but a deliberate omission will keep them apart—and that same omission will be responsible for the escape of a murderer, and a bride’s deception.

{MORE ABOUT TA’MARA HANSCOM}

Born and raised in South Dakota, Ta`Mara loves to write about the Great Plains and the beauty and people of Italia. While her husband and children manage their two pizza ristoranti, Ta`Mara works full time on The Caselli Family Series, and ministers to women. It is Ta`Mara s prayer that as the readers explore the truths in these volumes, they will come away with a new perspective on love, forgiveness, obedience, and God’s plan for marriage

My Take : First of all I wasn't sure about this book but I am looking forward to reading the next in this Family saga. This book will have you engaged and before you know it you will be almost down and wonder how all the time went by. You may not like the way this book goes but it will have you wanting to read the next one. I thought it was a great book from a new author.

I received a review copy from Litfuse in exchange for an honest review

from Goodreads.com : The end of an Empire, The rise of a QueenEmory Fae enjoys leading a quiet, normal life. That is until two mysterious, and handsome soldiers show up at her apartment, and the life she knew is instantly whisked away. Memphis Carter and Brokk Foster come from the magical and war ridden world of Kiero, and upon Emory's arrival she will discover she is the long lost heir to the Royal Line and is thrown into the Black Dawn Rebellion with a dynamic role to ignite the rebels and reclaim her throne.

With both men being darkly woven in her past Emory uncovers hidden secrets, a power held long dormant, and will soon realize there are worse things than supernatural humans, love, loss, betrayal, and a Mad King.

Some things are better left in the shadows.

My Take: This was a pleasant read and not a huge honking read. I liked the different perspectives from the different characters and even though I find fantasy reads a bit much at times and a little more work than I like in my pleasure reading this book was not like that at all. I would recommend this book if you are wanting to just dip your toe into the fantasy genre. Good story.

I received a review copy from Pump up your book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Imagine a world where your destiny has already been decided…by your future self.

It’s Callie’s seventeenth birthday and, like everyone else, she’s eagerly awaiting her vision―a memory sent back in time to sculpt each citizen into the person they’re meant to be. A world-class swimmer. A renowned scientist.

Or in Callie’s case, a criminal.

In her vision, she sees herself murdering her gifted younger sister. Before she can process what it means, Callie is arrested and placed in Limbo―a prison for those destined to break the law. With the help of her childhood crush, Logan, a boy she hasn’t spoken to in five years, she escapes the hellish prison.

But on the run from her future, as well as the government, Callie sets in motion a chain of events that she hopes will change her fate. If not, she must figure out how to protect her sister from the biggest threat of all.

Callie herself.

Follow-up to the New York Times bestselling novel, Forget Tomorrow!

Would you change the past to protect your future?

Sixteen-year-old Jessa Stone is the most valuable citizen in Eden City. Her psychic abilities could lead to significant scientific discoveries, if only she’d let TechRA study her. But ten years ago, the scientists kidnapped and experimented on her, leading to severe ramifications for her sister, Callie. She’d much rather break into their labs and sabotage their research—starting with Tanner Callahan, budding scientist and the boy she loathes most at school.

The past isn’t what she assumed, though—and neither is Tanner. He’s not the arrogant jerk she thought he was. And his research opens the door to the possibility that Jessa can rectify a fatal mistake made a decade earlier. She’ll do anything to change the past and save her sister—even if it means teaming up with the enemy she swore to defeat.

The third book in the New York Times bestselling and RITA®-award-winning Forget Tomorrow series is a thrilling conclusion to an epic trilogy.

Seventeen-year-old precognitive Olivia Dresden is an optimist. Since different versions of people's futures flicker before her eyes, she doesn't have to believe in human decency. She can literally see the path to goodness in each person—if only he or she would make the right decision. No one is more conflicted than her mother, Chairwoman Dresden, and Olivia is fiercely loyal to the woman her mother could be.

But when the Chairwoman captures Ryder Russell, a boy from the rebel Underground, Olivia is forced to reevaluate her notions of love and faith. With Ryder's help, Olivia must come to terms with who her mother is in the present—and stop her before she destroys the world.My Take: I thought that this was a pretty good trilogy. I liked the premise of finding out what we would be in the future but I also thought how sad that you wouldn't get to make all the different choices and decisions that make you what you are today. I would recommend this trilogy to anyone who likes dystopian futures. I received review copies of these books in exchange for my honest opinion from Chapter by chapter.

From Goodreads.com : There are eight basic human emotions that all people experience--hurt, guilt/shame, anger, anxiety, sorrow, fear, happiness, and love. We might believe we make sense of our lives by thinking through our experiences, but neuroscience shows that the part of our brains that processes emotions is many times faster than the part where logic and reason hold sway. It's the way God created us, but if we do not develop wisdom for handling our feelings, we may find that our emotions continue to get the best of us.Thankfully, the Bible is full of guidance about our emotions. With keen insight into human psychology and a gift for drawing wisdom for life from Scripture, Dr. Mark Baker shows readers how they can find comfort and promote emotional health in their lives. Anyone experiencing distress in their relationships or struggling with overwhelming emotions or even traumatic events will find clear biblical help and healing, leading them to a happier, more fulfilled life.

My take: Although this book gives you some suggestions on knowing how each of our emotions can work for us and against us. I feel that it it is really for each of us to decide on how we react to different things in our lives though prayer. This is a good starting point but I think it will take some partioning God to really come to a happier life.

I received a review copy of this book from Revell is exchange for my honest opinion.

Monday, October 23, 2017

Decades of loss, an unsolved mystery, and a rift spanning three generations

Hazel DeFord is a woman haunted by her past. While berry picking in a blackberry thicket in 1943, ten-year old Hazel momentarily turns her back on her three-year old sister Maggie and the young girl disappears.

Almost seventy years later, the mystery remains unsolved and the secret guilt Hazel carries has alienated her from her daughter Diane, who can’t understand her mother’s overprotectiveness and near paranoia. While Diane resents her mother’s inexplicable eccentricities, her daughter Meghan—a cold case agent—cherishes her grandmother’s lavish attention and affection.

When a traffic accident forces Meghan to take a six-week leave-of-absence to recover, all three generations of DeFord women find themselves unexpectedly under the same roof. Meghan knows she will have to act as a mediator between the two headstrong and contentious women. But when they uncover Hazel’s painful secret, will Meghan also be able to use her investigative prowess to solve the family mystery and help both women recover all that’s been lost?

{MORE ABOUT KIM VOGEL SAWYER}

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a highly acclaimed, best-selling author with more than one million books in print, in several different languages. Her titles have earned numerous accolades including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas with her retired military husband Don, where she continues to write gentle stories of hope and redemption. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and grandchildren.

My take: What a roller coaster ride of a book. I loved all the intricate personal relationships and how each relationship was in some way affected by the incident that happens in the first chapter. How one devistating incident can affect other generations to come is very well represented in this book. I liked the mystery that was involved in this book along with the relationship between the mothers and daughters and the grandmother and granddaughter. I hope to have relationships with my grandchildren like the one depicted in this book. I can see this book being loaned to others but not given away because I will want to read this again. Recommended

I received a review copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion.

From Goodreads.com : The Bible is a spiritual book that can be viewed from a historical viewpoint, and it's full of allegories to help people visualize and understand God's Word. Using the keys of understanding found in the Bible, Song of Solomon Revealed sheds light on the often misunderstood book of Song of Solomon, a book of allegories that takes the natural to the spiritual; it's an allegory of Jesus and His bride, and a book of historical value. Song of Solomon Revealed eloquently explains the spiritual meaning of this book, backed up by the scripture, and reveals how the Song of Solomon applies to your life today.My Take: To be perfectly honest with you I did not finish this book. I found it a bit hard to follow and I felt that the author at times was perhaps trying to hard to make things fit his interpretation of things. I do know that the book is an allegory but sometimes what is said is just that what it says not some deep meaning that must be explained with seven other scriptures and those are a stretch to explain. I had my husband take a look at the book also and he came to the same conclusions I did. I will try to read this book again several months down the road and update this review if I come to any new conclusions. This was the authors first book and may be helped with a bit more editing. You may get something out of this book if you are into really deep theological discussions. I am a simple theology person. I received a review copy of this book from Pump Up Your book in exchange for my honest opinion.

from Goodreads.com: Everyone suffers disappointment, rejection, injustices, and losses, perhaps even traumatic ones. The spiritual pain born of such suffering can paralyze us, leaving us broken inside and barely getting by with the motions of life. Whether we remain stuck or move forward is determined in large part by our resilience.Concise and compassionate, Becoming Resilient takes our most common question when tragedy strikes--Why?--and replaces it with the healthier, more productive question, What next? A professional Christian counselor for 20 years, author Donna Gibbs draws on her experience helping clients get unstuck, sharing secrets for building resilience that will change readers' experience of suffering. She offers practical tools and effective coping strategies to deal with whatever life throws their way so they can move through suffering--and come out stronger on the other side.

My take : This book is a great place to start if you are grieving and you want to learn to be resilient in these type of situations. God can help us through these times and we need to try not to get stuck in the why but to try to move on. There are application questions that you can answer throughout the book to make the book more of a workbook than a how to. This book helps with life. I received a review copy from Revell in exchange for my honest opinion.

From Goodreads.com: A fiercehearted woman looks life in the face and says, "You can't beat me." She knows love is a risk but reaches out anyway. She chases Jesus with a tender, world-changing wildness. She never gives in, never gives up, and never lets go. Best of all, the potential to be a fiercehearted woman is inside each and every woman on earth.In her most powerful book yet, beloved bestselling author Holley Gerth inspires her readers to become the stronger, braver, truer women they long to be by sharing personal stories of her own struggles and victories. As readers join Holley on this journey, they'll discover a freedom they never imagined could be theirs: the freedom to experience life, love, and faith to the fullest because fear can no longer hold them back.

For the woman who is restless or longing for more, Fierceheartedis an invitation to the life God has always meant for her to embrace.

My Take: This is the first book that I have read by Holley Gerth. I found it to be very informative and good and a helpful book on taking chances in life and becomeing a fierce woman. I would recommend this book if you want a book that is written from a personal level that is more girlfriend to girlfriend.

I received a review copy from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Saturday, October 14, 2017

From Goodreads.com: Darla Weaver writes out of her own struggles with Christian discipleship so that others will know Old Order Mennonites are human too and often long to walk closer to God. She bares her heart in these 90 devotionals drawn from her home-centered life in western Ohio's hills. While family, gardening, cooking with home grown food, and living as naturally as possible off the land are the focus of her days, her utmost goal is to serve and honor the Christ she loves and serves through all aspects of her life. Women especially will relate to these meditations generously sprinkled with stories from Darla's children, marriage, community and wider friends and family. Daily scripture readings, poignant prayers and journal prompts or ideas for active responses are included with each inspiring devotional.My Take: I don't know about you but when I think of Old Order Mennonites and even the Amish I think that both have got this Christianity thing down pat and they would never struggle with the things that are addressed in this devotional. After all they don't live with all the technology and rush rush of our modern world. But just like the Israelites in the Bible struggled , they struggle too. And we in all our technology and rushing around just might have something to learn from the people we may think are a little backward compared to us. I would highly recommend this book if you feel the need to maybe slow down a bit and spend more time with God. I received a review copy of this book from Herald Press in exchange for my honest opinion.

Mia, an American Christian, has lived in Sudan so long that persecution, harassment, and danger have become commonplace for her. Her tough outer shell threatens to harden her heart while her newly Christian friends, Halimah and Rania, former Muslims, are forced to live in exile outside Sudan. All three quickly discover that escaping danger in one place only means facing even greater challenges elsewhere. As God’s mercy becomes evident in their lives, they must choose whether or not to offer mercy to those who don’t deserve it.

Third in a trilogy, Mercy Triumphs opens the reader’s eyes to modern-day persecution and the life of Muslims in Sudan. Based on real-life events, Mercy Triumphs reveals some of the struggles Christians face when living under Islamic law. The reader will be inspired to pray for new believers, those who are persecuted for their faith, and even for the salvation of the persecutors.

{MORE ABOUT JANA KELLEY}

Author of the captivating novel “Side by Side,” Jana Kelley is a Texan who hardly ever lives in Texas. Raised in Southeast Asia, Jana developed a love for cross-cultural living early in life. Her love for writing came soon after. Jana returned to Texas to attend East Texas Baptist University. She and her husband married a month after she graduated, and by their second anniversary, they were living in a remote African town. After 13 years living in Africa and the Middle East, Jana, her husband, and their three boys moved to Southeast Asia where they currently live.

My take: This the third book in a trilogy. I have read the First book Side by Side and you can click the link to find out what I thought of that book. I haven't read the second book but I will probably go back and read it at some time. Like the first book this book takes a look at three ladies and what they have to do to be a Christian in a Muslim nation and especially the dangers they face after converting from being a Muslim. I always think after reading this type of book of how easy we have it in this country as far as being a Christian compared to other countries. Our time I fear is coming though. If you are interested in finding out what it might be like for a Muslim to convert to Christianity then this trilogy will really open your eyes.

I received a review copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion.

For the members of SEAL Team Six, it was a rare mission ordered by the president, monitored in real time from the Situation Room. The Houthi rebels in Yemen had captured an American journalist and a member of the Saudi royal family. Their executions were scheduled for Easter Sunday. The SEAL team would break them out.

But when the mission results in spectacular failure, the finger-pointing goes all the way to the top.

Did the president play political games with the lives of U.S. service members?

Paige Chambers, a determined young lawyer, has a very personal reason for wanting to know the answer. The case she files will polarize the nation and test the resiliency of the Constitution. The stakes are huge, the alliances shaky, and she will be left to wonder if the saying on the Supreme Court building still holds true.

Equal justice under law.

It makes a nice motto. But will it work when one of the most powerful people on the planet is also a defendant?

MORE ABOUT RANDY SINGER}

Randy Singer is a critically acclaimed author and veteran trial attorney. He has penned more than ten legal thrillers, including his award-winning debut novel “Directed Verdict.” In addition to his law practice and writing, he serves as a teaching pastor for Trinity Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He also teaches classes in advocacy and ethics at Regent Law School and serves on the school’s Board of Visitors.

My Take: I will be perfectly honest and say that even through I like thrillers I don't always like thrillers with a military aspect to it. But I loved this book. I love books where the writing is so good that I can almost forget that I am reading a book and its like I am watching a movie instead. This book was just like that. I haven't read to many books by Randy Singer but I think I will try to remedy that oversight on my part. This book falls into many different catertgories that I think almost all readers will find something that they would enjoy in this book. Highly recommend.

I received a review copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion.

My take: This book didn't come in time for me to participate in the blog tour given by Handlebar but I wanted to read it anyway. The main focus in this book is to make sure that we as Christians are focusing on the inner (devotions, reading the Bible, Praying, slowing down , taking time to be quiet) instead of only looking on the outward (appearance, busyness, success, world). I became disabled a few years back and even when I can't get around as easily as I use to I still was focused on the busy, going to Dr. appointments, doing therapy and going to Physical therapy. Even when you would think I would have had the right time and place I still needed to be reminded to slow down and take time for the more important things instead of the immediate. I plan on reading this often just to make sure my life is in the right order.

I received a review copy of this book from Handlebar Publicity in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Disclaimer

All reviews on this blog are either from my personal library of books or from books provided to me for review. I have not received any payment for these reviews and I am not required to write a positive review.

Book Review or Book Spotlight, What's the dif?

I have been posting something I have been calling a Book Spotlight. How is this different from a review? A Review is when I have read the book either entirely or mostly and I feel that I can write an opinion on the book based on my experience with the book. I either have a physical copy of the book or audio or e-book. A Spotlight is when I haven't actually read the book but I want to bring attention to it so others are aware of it. I sometimes have a copy of the book but just haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I may just like the author and intend on getting a copy of the book soon. Most spotlights include a summary taken from Amazon.com or Goodreads.com.